BC-New Home of Guilt Free Child Pornography

March 1, 1999

OTTAWA- Today in Question Period, Jay Hill, MP for Prince George-Peace River and Deputy Justice Critic of the Official Opposition, questioned the government on why they are sitting back allowing the child pornography scandal to continue in British Columbia.

"Mr. Speaker, according to the Justice Minister child porn is not a problem in BC. She says, and I quote… "Police are investigating, charges are being laid and prosecutions are taking place as they always have." Wrong! Last week a judge in Vernon, BC refused to accept a guilty plea from a man charged with possession of child porn, because she said the charges were unconstitutional pending the April court appeal.

Why did the Justice Minister tell British Columbians that everything’s OK, when she knew it’s not?" Hill asked.

The Government responded that the issue is under appeal and that they will follow the legal process and await the decision of the appellate court in late April. In the mean time judges in BC do not have the right to convict a person for possession of child pornography, which are photographic evidence of child sexual abuse.

"That Liberal legalistic mumbo jumbo doesn’t cut it with parents in BC. Glenn Kelly knew he was guilty…He knew he did wrong…He should have been punished for his perversion. Yet in British Columbia judges can’t even accept a guilty plea for this disgusting crime! I question what is more important to this government, children’s right to safety or pervert’s right to child porn. Why do Liberal lawyers always support due process rather than due diligence?" concluded Hill.